1. Water Policy in Israel Adaptation to Climate and Regional Change By Oren Bukspan EOS 406 – Spring 2014

2. Effects of Climate Change Precipitation levels dropping in the Levant Accompanied by surface temperature increase Less aquifer recharge – Upper Jordan River Coastal aquifer – seawater intrusion Land quality – decrease in suitability for cultivation Changing temperatures, changing crops? Temperature and water supply

3. Structure in Israel Israel’s economics approach to water Sells water for residential, industrial, agricultural Three separate ministries involved: National Infrastructures, Energy, and Water Resources Environmental Protection Health Water Authority  National Infrastructures Recent history of unprecedented drought Upper and Lower Red, Black Lines

4. Goals & Recommendations Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Combines equity, economy, sustainability Combine responsibilities and reach of ministries Eliminate water subsidies to industry, agriculture With desalination, water production costs are rising $0.60 – $0.80 vs. $0.15 – $0.45 Diversification: virtual/gray/treated-waste water?

5. Prior Attempts Water Authority campaigns to reduce consumption Distribution of “water discharge regulators” Easy to install, save water by reducing flow Residential economic disincentives Technology: modern drip irrigation

6. Challenges & Setbacks Desalination is a success: are we done? “As of early 2013…the Water Authority feels it can say with confidence that Israel has beaten the drought.” “There’s no water problem because of the desalination…the problem is no longer on the agenda.” Population growth – subsidies for large families Has irreversible damage already been done? Or: how much change will be enough? Sea of Galilee, Aquifer Recharge, Seawater Intrusion

7. Questions?